Virgin Money CEO to chair Scottish student support review

Jayne-Anne Gadhia - Virgin Money

Virgin Money boss Jayne-Anne Gadhia has been appointed as the independent chair of the Scottish Government’s review of student support.

Gadhia, who has led Virgin Money since 2007, led a UK Treasury report on women’s representation in finance earlier this year.

She already sits on the panel of international advisors to the Scottish Government on education.

The review, announced in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, will look at the balance and fairness of grant and loan support for students.

The appointment comes as the latest figures from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) showed spending on student report has risen to £805.8m.

"It is important to ensure the student support system is fit for purpose, fair and firmly focused on meeting the needs of all students in further and higher education, particularly the most vulnerable,” said Gadhia.

“As such, I welcome the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of the current systems of student support in Scotland.”

Further Education, Higher Education & Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “With such strong financial experience, and already contributing to Scottish education as a member of the International Council of Education Advisers, Jayne-Anne will provide a fresh perspective to the work of the review. I look forward to the recommendations that the review group will offer.”

Scottish Labour welcomed the appointment but warned Gadhia faces a "huge task" because of the SNP's record on student support.

Education spokesman Iain Gray said: “Figures released today show that there almost 20,000 fewer students are receiving grants and bursaries than at the beginning of the last parliament. Meanwhile student debt – which the SNP came to power promising to abolish  – has soared under the SNP government.

“Labour supports free tuition – but students need the financial support to get through university when they get there, instead the SNP has slashed bursaries and ballooned debt.”

Colleges Scotland chief executive Shona Struthers welcomed the fact the review will take account of support in further as well as higher education.

“We fully support measures to improve student support funding to ensure that all students can attend college, regardless of their personal circumstances or background.”

The review will now appoint further members, and will report back to government next Autumn.